i thunk so

I have a compulsive urge to move on. It applies to almost every area of my professional life. At a project level, I literally need to have three or more things going on at once so that I can choose what I want to work on at any given time. When I get bored of one project, I push it off to the side and move on to the next boring thing. Rare are the moments when I dive headlong into a task only to find that it’s addictive. When those moments do come along, the feeling is euphoric; and the by-product is usually something I am very proud of. Almost always, these projects are related to side work, and not my bread-amd-butter work.

At a career level, I seem unable to stay in one job for more then a few years. I haven’t decided whether this is attributable more to the career path I’ve chosen which lands me at dot-coms or small Internet firms. The company I’m consulting at now is the first big-time Internet retailer job I’ve worked for as of yet. I’ve been there for about six months, and tones of repetition are starting to set in.

I don’t feel like this is symptomatic of my personality because I am someone who prefers consistency on many levels. For example, the married life definitely suits me. I enjoy eating the same types of foods — most say I’m a picky eater, so I’m definitely not a “grass is greener” kind of guy when it comes to cuisine.

The long and short of it is that I would like to get to the point where I can work on something without hearing a ticking mental time bomb.

Filed by JP at 6:41 pm under Personal Drama, Business
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Morale around work has been pretty low lately. I’ve been scrambling to think of ways to lighten things up. I don’t exactly come off as the playful, fun-loving guy that I am (I think I’m usually just too deep in my own thoughts to notice or acknowledge others much of the time), so it was an interesting study in quick creativity.

I mulled over the idea of an awards program, and settled on the Easy Button Awards (a.k.a. “The Easies”). Now I’m not a manager or a director or anything, but I have been in the past. I think that peer recognition is cool if it’s done in a way that is not embarassing to the recipient — nobody likes to be elevated above their peers in front of their peers….at least, nobody who’s normal.

It’s kind of a silly idea, and probably short-lived; but I think it is a start. It didn’t help morale much in the short-term, though. One of my co-workers actually announced her departure shortly after I nominated her for and awarded her with the first Easy Award. I hope the two aren’t releated. Hmmmmmmmm….

Filed by JP at 6:45 pm under Ideas, Opinions, Business
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I guess I’ve been pretty lazy over the past month or so. I’m in the doldrums when it comes to getting work done at home. I’ve been drowning in a sea of ideas and obligations. This is ironic given the nature of my previous post about getting “back to business.”

Part of it, I suppose, is that I’m far from being a grinch during the Christmas season. Maybe I’m not as into it as this guy, but I feel a little spring in my step when I’m online at Amazon shopping for my 4-year-old. I get chastised quite a bit by my wife during the Christmas season for not being able to walk through any store without buying something to put in my kid’s stocking.

Then there are parties and concerts and things like that which seem to take up the evenings. Weekends, lately, have been spent decorating, wrapping stocking stuffers, having extended family to the house; and somewhere in the middle of it all, hopefully, a little family time with my wife and daughter.

I guess I’m just trying to say that I realize my ambition has taken a back seat during this busy time; but I really think I’m okay with that. I’m just hoping my business partners aren’t reading this post.

Filed by JP at 11:00 am under Personal Drama
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